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Lice on Cattle Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 Volume 5 Number 9 September, 1964 Article 8 1-1-1964 Lice on cattle Department of Agriculture, Western Australia Follow this and additional works at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4 Part of the Beef Science Commons, Dairy Science Commons, Parasitic Diseases Commons, and the Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology Commons Recommended Citation Department of Agriculture, Western Australia (1964) "Lice on cattle," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 5 : No. 9 , Article 8. Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol5/iss9/8 This article is brought to you for free and open access by Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LICE ON CATTLE Lice can cause serious financial losses through reduced growth rates and loss of production in beef and dairy cattle. This article describes the main species and recommended control measures. Contributed by the Veterinary Branch BEEF and dairy cattle of all ages are liable to lice infestation and loss of production. These parasites although very small can be responsible for serious financial losses as their presence leads to retarded growth rates and reduced milk yields. This is easily understood when it is realised that lice-infested animals spend much of the time, normally devoted to feeding and rumination, in rubbing and scratching to allay the irritation caused by the parasites. Most types of birds and animals have The Short-Nosed Sucking Louse, or Blue their own species of lice and these are Louse specific to their hosts—pig lice, for (Haematopinus eurystermus) instance, would soon die if transferred This species occurs chiefly in grown from pigs to cattle or horses. cattle, particularly the beef breeds, and is Lice are usually grouped in two main generally found in clusters on top of the classes—sucking lice and biting lice. The head, around the eyes and nose, on the sucking lice have conical heads and strong neck, brisket, withers, rump, tail, inside legs terminating in powerful claws. The the thighs, scrotum, sheath, and udder. eyes are absent in the Haematopinus species to which the common sucking lice of domestic animals belongs. Sucking lice are, in general, regarded as being responsible for far greater losses than biting lice. They cause considerably more irritation owing to their habit of feeding in clusters or colonies and of piercing skin and sucking the blood and tissue fluids. Biting lice are less irritating, since they feed on the scurf and hair on the skin surface. Biting lice are characterised by their broad heads and all bird-lice and some mammalian lice belong to this group. Species and Life Histories Six species of lice are recognised as affecting cattle. The four main species Female long-nosed sucking louse, with egg attached to a hair. This is the most common and important species in found in Western Australia are:— Western Australia 567 Journal of Agriculture Vol 5 No 9 1964 The Long-Nosed Sucking Louse Actual maximum length 2.5 mms. (After Kuth) The long-nosed sucking louse only grows to 2.5 mms. long and can be easily over­ looked. When searching for these lice, a good source of light is essential, and a magnifying glass can be useful. They are found in clusters and a close search must be made of a number of areas on the skin before you can gauge how severe the infestation is. The head is twice as long The Short-Nosed Sucking Louse as it is broad and the parasite is smaller Actually 3.5 mms. long and more slender than the short-nosed (a) Male; (b) Female (After Kuth) sucking louse. The eggs hatch in 10 to 14 days and the lice mature 11 days later. It is very common and widely distributed in Australia and has a greyish body with The Biting Louse of Cottle a brownish head which is short and blunt. {Damalinia bovis) The eggs hatch in 11 to 18 days and in This species was recorded recently for about another 12 days the lice are sexually the first time in Western Australia at mature and the females start to lay eggs. Pinjarra and at Geraldton. It is reddish- Males may live up to 10 days and females brown, slightly smaller than the sucking up to 16 days. During her lifetime the lice, and occurs chiefly in dairy herds and female may lay 35 to 50 eggs. stabled cattle. It is found usually on the top of the head, neck, shoulders, back and The Long-Nosed Sucking Louse rump. Biting lice may be found on cattle (Linognathus vituli) of all ages and when numerous are capable of causing considerable annoyance and This is undoubtedly THE MOST COM­ irritation. The eggs hatch in about nine MON AND IMPORTANT SPECIES IN days and the lice reach maturity about WESTERN AUSTRALIA AND OCCURS 14 days later. FREQUENTLY IN THE SOUTH-WEST PORTION OF THIS STATE, ESPECIALLY IN YOUNG ANIMALS. The Tubercle-Bearing Louse, or Little Blue It is this parasite, coupled with severe Sucking Louse internal worm infestation, which is re­ (Solenaptes capillatus) sponsible for the serious losses encountered This is one of the smallest of the cattle in calves and yearling beasts. Like the sucking lice and was first reported in short-nosed species it is found in clusters Western Australia in 1932 from Heme Hill. and has much the same distribution on More recently a young bull from the the body. It has a dark grey body with Wooroloo area was found to be heavily an almost black head. infested with this parasite. 568 Journal of Agriculture Vol 5 No 9 1964 The tubercle-bearing louse occurs in conspicuous clusters on the head and neck and its eggs hatch in 10 to 13 days. Transmission Lice are usually spread from animal to animal by contact, and it has been noticed that adult lice instinctively move outward along the hair when a lousy animal rubs against another beast. Infestations are seldom spread by eggs and lice on detached hairs, as under these conditions both eggs and parasites seldom live for more than The Tubercle-Bearing Louse or Little Blue Sucking-Louse a few days. Actually 1.25 mms. long Seasonal Prevalence may rise to 125° F. which soon kills the Lice infestation may occur practically parasites. Where cattle are stall-fed, in at any season of the year, but it is only lower temperatures, heavy infestations under certain conditions that the parasites may occur during summer. assume serious proportions. Other factors which may influence lice HEAVIEST INFESTATIONS ARE FOUND populations are the state of nutrition of DURING WINTER but large lice popula­ the host animal, the conditions of the tions may occur on stalled cattle during skin and coat, and the intensity of light. summer. Intensity of light would hardly apply in It has been suggested that the tem­ Australia where there are many bright perature of the skin surface is a controlling sunny days during the winter when lice factor. In the case of the cattle biting are apt to be most abundant on pastured lice (Damalinia bovis) for example the cattle. upper limits for population maintenance are between 90° F. and 100° F. When Symptoms animals are exposed to bright sunlight during the summer, the skin temperature In heavily lice-infested animals which are constantly rubbing and scratching there is usually a marked loss of hair and the coat becomes rough and shaggy. In very bad cases the hairs of the coat becomes matted. The skin becomes dry and scaly so that large scabs or crusts may form, resembling the lesions of mange. Lousy animals are restless, do not feed well and their unhealthy conditions may make them susceptible to other diseases. Lice infestation causes lower milk pro­ duction in dairy cattle and leads to retarded weight gains particularly in young stock. With calves, lousiness leads to much licking of the coat, and since the hair is loose, hairballs form readily and frequently lead to internal disorders. The constant sucking of blood and tissue fluids by sucking species of lice can lead to severe anaemia, and deaths from this cause may result when infestations are particularly heavy. UNDER THE CONDI­ TIONS EXPERIENCED IN THE SOUTH­ The Biting Louse of Cattle WEST OF THIS STATE THE LICE POPU­ Actual maximum length 1.75 mms (After Helmsing) LATIONS START TO BUILD UP IN EARLY 569 Journal of Agriculture Vol 5 No 9 1964 Cows being sprayed in a good type of walk-through spray race. Cattle lice can be killed by spraying with organic phosphate or arsenical sprays. WINTER WHEN THE PASTURES ARE A single treatment will provide a good LOW IN NUTRITIONAL VALUE AND measure of control but two treatments WHEN YOUNG CATTLE ESPECIALLY separated by an interval of 14 days are FIND IT HARD TO GET ENOUGH desirable for complete eradication. NOURISHMENT TO KEEP THEM IN A Lice eggs are seldom destroyed by spray­ ing fluids and the second application HEALTHY CONDITION. ensures that young lice which have hatched after the first treatment are Treatment and Control destroyed before they start to lay. A knowledge of the life history of the It is essential also that all cattle on the parasite is helpful in the application of property should be treated at the same control measures. The female lice lay eggs time since any which are left untreated and attach them to the hairs of the host.
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